Cook the corn according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Start the potatoes for the topping. Put them in a large pot with enough water to cover them by a couple of inches. Add about 2 teaspoons of salt to the water. Bring the potatoes to a boil, uncovered, over high heat. Cook them for 10 to 13 minutes. Meanwhile, make the meat filling.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion and celery in the butter, stirring often, for about 5 to 6 minutes.

Add the ground beef to the pan and break it up with a wooden spoon as it browns. Remove the skillet from the stove and, resting it on a heatproof surface so it won't feel so heavy, tilt the pan so that the excess fat runs to the side. Carefully spoon out the fat and discard it (this will make the dish leaner and healthier, as well as lighter tasting).

Put the skillet back on the burner and set the heat to medium low. Stir the garlic and flour into the beef mixture. Stir in the beef broth, then the canned tomatoes, then the herbs, reserved corn, and Worcestershire sauce.

Gently simmer the mixture for several minutes, partially covered, then add salt (1/4 teaspoon, give or take a little) and pepper to taste. Transfer the mixture to a large buttered casserole. Set the oven to 400°, and while it heats, check to see if your boiling potatoes are done.

To test the potatoes, use a slotted spoon to transfer a cube from the water to a cutting board and allow it to cool for 30 seconds or so. If you can slice through the chunk easily with a butter knife, the potatoes are done.

Set a large colander in the sink and drain the potatoes in it (this job can generate a lot of steam, so it is best done by an adult or under adult supervision). Transfer the drained potatoes to a large mixing bowl and scatter the butter pieces over them. Spoon the sour cream here and there over the hot potatoes as well. Wait several minutes for the butter to melt and the sour cream to warm so the ingredients will be easier to blend, then partially mash the potatoes with a hand masher.

Switch to an electric mixer set at medium speed and continue to mash, adding enough milk to make medium-soft mashed potatoes. Don't make them too soft, however; you want them to have some body.

Salt the potatoes to taste and spoon them evenly over the filling. Sprinkle the cheese over the top, then sprinkle on some paprika (be sure to wash your hands right afterward so you don't accidentally rub any of the spice in your eyes). Bake the pie on the center oven rack for about 20 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Cool for several minutes before serving.

We were away to Charlton at the weekend (i didn't go). One enterprising individual, who runs a lot of coaches to away matches, put on a boat trip down the thames including a free bar. It looked horrific.

Full of 'lads' having 4 bottles of beer at a time, chucking it everywhere, and giving a load of abuse to passers by on the various bridges.

Not surprisingly it wet a bit wrong (no sympathy for anyone who expected coach travel, boat trip, and a true free bar in London, on a boat, all for £30 quid). The boat company were expecting a work type crowd, not several hundred football fans, and the organiser had to resort to putting a £200 tab behind the bar every so often, which obviously ran out after about two minutes, due to people having four bottles at a time.

There was also trouble the previous weekend vs Sunderland. I hate Sunderland, and if one or more of their fans was to attack me i wouldn't hesitate to start swinging for the fences, but the videos of brave 'lads' on both sides, running at each other and then running away, and throwing crowd control barriers at nobody in particular, is pretty cringeworthy.

Football fans in general, sad to say, are pretty major things that bother me, whether the hooligan type, or the match-obsessed saddos.

I have to say, having watched a lot of football in Italy, the general understanding and intelligence of their fans, whether the casual fans at matches, or the ultras, is far higher than in England.

The paucity of mobile signal in main railway stations. In King's Cross earlier, full 4g, shit just hangs. It's not like it should be a surprise that thousands of people are using their phones in one place. Increase your bandwidth. Cunts.

I've been a fan of Italian football since the 90's and have followed it throughout.... Also had a season ticket with my own club for nearly ten years, and followed them home and away through all four divisions. Not to mention travelling to the likes of France, Spain, Greece, Serbia, to see football. So I'm happy enough to have confidence in my views, however unpopular they may be.

I have to say, having watched a lot of football in Italy, the general understanding and intelligence of their fans, whether the casual fans at matches, or the ultras, is far higher than in England.

O Rly? My mate used to live in Treviso and wouldn't even go to local games cos the fans were all such racist cunts. Throwing bananas at black players etc

Can't argue with that. I've encountered monkey chanting on occasions in Italy, even at clubs without a right-wing background. However I was just talking about the general understanding of the game of football in front of them.

LoamI count myself lucky I've always worked with normal* people who's idea of a Christmas do is to go to the local, eat a steak, and get shitfaced.

*peasants

This is what I would prefer to do, and what has been done in the past.

wiseacreThe paucity of mobile signal in main railway stations. In King's Cross earlier, full 4g, shit just hangs. It's not like it should be a surprise that thousands of people are using their phones in one place. Increase your bandwidth. Cunts.

Yes, Waterloo is exactly the same. I don't even bother using my phone on the train anymore.